Three young ladies Larissa Byll Cataria, Beninese and two Burundians Dannie-Bella Sindayigaya and Augusta Muhimpundu travel across Africa marrying business and volunteer actions.
The Beninese and the two Burundians ladies share a common hobby: participating in volunteer activities. It is in this context that they organized in Kigali in partnership with some Rwandan Women artists, a seminar workshop on art entitled “Art Through the Lens: a Woman perspective.”
This event brought together women photographers, models, writers, and even enthusiasts young people to break barriers or taboos about Art in general in Rwanda and in Africa, to share experiences and to interact with other artists, practicing professionals for the celebration of the International Day of Women 2018.
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The 2018 celebration marked a call to action for accelerating gender parity. – There was a strong call to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive -.
‘The theme ‘Art through the lens, a women perspective’ set the tone for an agenda that includes mentorships talks, role modelling and sharing of experiences (highs and lows) by successful women photographers working in a male dominated- field.’
This initiative focused attention on the issue of gender inequality in order to help ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls in art and all these efforts towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The event brought together more than fifty (50) young women and men in prelude to the celebration of the International Women’s Day 2018 (IWD). Also attended the even, young students from the Universities and other women and men interested in art or curious to discover the world of women in art. For a first edition in Kigali, we had more than 50 participants, which shows the interest in Women in Art.
During this event, there was a panel of discussions, composed of young women artists each one different from the other, Kalisa (Weeding Photographer), Alexia (Model), Nadege Karemera (Journalist-Photographer), Karen (Writer) and Larissa BYLL CATARIA (Portraits & Corporate events Photographer)
Indeed, this initiative aimed to bring an awakening to African women and tell them that they are capable, that they have the potential to become artists and why not make a living out of their passion. We have been able to break the barrier of women in art in Rwanda in particular, but also in Africa in general.
The organisers of this event believe that this event opened numerous doors in the worlds of art and commercial photography for the participants as well as offering professional photographers a platform to increase the audience that knows and appreciates their creative vision. This event also provided to few professional photographers, the opportunity to display their work and showcase the impact of their work within their community.
For organisers, artists partners and participants, this has been an opportunity for all to enrich their knowledge and experience as photographer, model, writer or even enthusiasts of Art. They were positive feedback from the audience as well journalists and partners who are all looking forward to the next edition.
‘We want to better understand African societies and understand the barriers to the economic growth of our societies and especially the most vulnerable social categories. Our greatest desire is to positively impact lives as agents of change and we decided to do it through ART.’ – From organisers.
